Catholic News
- Pope Leo, Secretary of State Rubio exchange views (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio today (video), three days after President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the Pontiff. - Pope describes work of Swiss Guard as vocation to holiness (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today received members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and their families, a day after 28 new members were sworn in. - Marking Vatican publishing anniversary, Pope urges everyone to read books (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV praised the reading and distribution of books as he marked the centenary of Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), the Vatican publishing house. - Poland's PM, Pontiff discuss peace (CWN)
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland met with Pope Leo XIV and discussed “responsibility, peace, and a world that today, more than ever, needs solidarity,” according to a social media post from the prime minister. - Cardinal Marx meets with Pope; Cardinal Parolin says sanctions against German bishops premature (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, on May 7, amid public disagreement between the Vatican and the cardinal over the blessings of same-sex couples and couples who have remarried outside the Church. - Vatican diplomat stress importance of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, calls for improved verification (Holy See Mission)
Stressing the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968), a Vatican diplomat said that “the Holy See places particular importance on strengthening verification, transparency, and confidence-building measures.” “The Holy See emphasizes the importance of the universalization of the Treaty and of enhancing common efforts and commitments to ensure the non-proliferation and the progressive elimination of nuclear weapons, Msgr. Robert D. Murphy, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, stated on May 5. “The Holy See further reaffirms the value of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones as important regional instruments for advancing non-proliferation and strengthening international peace and security,” Msgr. Murphy added. “The establishment of additional zones, particularly in regions of persistent tension, especially the Middle East, remains a priority.” - Pontiff to visit France (Conférence des évêques de France)
The French bishops’ conference announced that Pope Leo XIV has accepted an invitation to visit France. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, the president of the episcopal conference, said on May 6 that “I have held several working sessions with the Pope—including one just last week—during which we drafted a preliminary itinerary. His visit would provide an opportunity to share with the Pope the current life of our Church in France and to draw encouragement from his words.” The trip could take place in late September and include visits to Paris and Lourdes, according to the episcopal conference. - Vatican orders Baton Rouge bishop investigation (Pillar)
The Dicastery for Bishops authorized the archbishop of New Orleans to conduct an investigation into whether Bishop Michael Duca of Baton Rouge failed to respond appropriately to an abuse complaint. The investigation is being conducted under the terms of Vos Estis Lux Mundi (You Are the Light of the World), Pope Francis’s apostolic letter on addressing sexual abuse. - Israeli man indicted in attack on nun in Jerusalem's Old City (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A 36-year-old Israeli man was indicted on assault charges in connection with an attack on a religious sister in Jerusalem. “Cases of Jews harassing Christians have risen sharply in recent years,” the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. “Last month, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] punished a soldier who was filmed bludgeoning a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. This week, the IDF also announced that it would discipline a different soldier who was seen placing a cigarette into the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in a photo posted on social media.” - Philippine bishop-designate withdraws from post (EWTN News)
A Philippine-bishop withdrew his acceptance of an episcopal appointment, three weeks before his installation Mass. On March 25, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Gerardo Saco, Jr., administrator of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, as diocesan bishop. In withdrawing from accepting the appointment, Father Saco said that his decision “comes from a deep awareness of my own human limitations and inadequacies.” - US bishops recall election of Pope Leo (USCCB)
In a 14-minute video, “One Year of Pope Leo XIV,” several U.S. bishops reflected on the surprise election of an American Pontiff and on Pope Leo’s first year. - Swiss president holds 'very inspiring' meeting with Pontiff (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland on May 6, the day of the swearing-in ceremony of 28 new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. - Vatican spokesman sees peace, Church unity as main themes of Pope Leo's 1st year (Vatican News)
In an editorial marking the first anniversary of Leo XIV’s pontificate, a Vatican spokesman wrote that “peace and the unity of the Church have been the two recurring and foundational themes of the first year.” “If peace has imposed itself as an urgent priority because of the multiplication of senseless conflicts and the progressive erosion of international law, the unity of the Church is a thread that runs through the entire magisterium of the Bishop of Rome,” said Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication. “The way in which Pope Leo has repeated his appeals for the unity of believers, in Christ,” Tornielli added, “is particularly significant and has nothing to do with a demand for ‘normality’ or a tranquility that dulls differences and perhaps waters down contrasts.” - Pope thanks Swiss Guard for service, as 28 new members sworn in (CWN)
Twenty-eight new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard were sworn in during a ceremony in Paul VI Audience Hall on May 6 (video). - Program announced for Pope's apostolic journey to Spain (Vatican Press Office)
The Holy See Press Office announced the program for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain. The journey, scheduled for June 6-12, will take the Pontiff to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat, and two cities on the Canary Islands, Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pope Leo plans to deliver five homilies, twelve addresses, and five greetings. Pope St. John Paul II made five apostolic journeys to Spain (1982, 1984, 1989, 1993, 2003), and Pope Benedict XVI made three (2006, 2010, 2011); Pope Francis did not visit the nation. - Cardinal Fernández: German bishops' blessings document does not have Vatican approval (CWN)
The prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith told Vatican News that the German bishops’ April 2025 document, “Segnungen für Paare, die sich lieben“ (Blessings for couples who love one another) does not have Vatican approval. - Lebanese priests overjoyed by a surprise video call from Pope Leo (OSV News)
Thirteen Lebanese priests taking part in a video call with the apostolic nuncio were surprised when Pope Leo XIV joined them. “The Pope greatly encouraged us,” said Father Elias, who, like the other priests on the call, hail from beleaguered southern Lebanese villages. “The Holy Father wished to give us good courage in the face of difficulties that our Christian community has faced in these past days. He prayed over us and spoke the benediction.” - Pope sends message to Gaza parish (Vatican News)
Pope Leo sent a written message to Gaza’s sole Catholic parish on May 4, the parish’s pastor revealed. Father Gabriel Romanelli, I.V.E., said: The Pope sent us a message expressing his closeness, his prayers, his concern for the entire situation, praying day after day for the end of the war in Gaza, for the parish, for all the local people, so that the Lord may grant what the prayers of the Successor of Saint Peter, today Leo XIV, implores for the world: peace for Palestine, peace for Israel, conversion, and grace for all. Describing the situation in Gaza, Father Romanelli said that “the ceasefire that began in October has somewhat improved the situation, in the sense that there are no blanket bombings. However, people are still dying, being killed.” - Cardinal Parolin sees 'consonance of thought' between Benedict XVI, future Pope Leo (CWN)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin said on May 6 that he sees a “consonance of thought” between the writings of Pope Benedict XVI and the writings of the future Pope Leo. - Report: Chinese bishops, other clergy gather to study 'Xi Jinping thought' (Bitter Winter)
Representatives of the state-sponsored Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference gathered in Beijing in April to study “Xi Jinping Thought, Xi Jinping’s statements on religious work, Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law, and the [Communist] Party’s program for ‘strict governance of religion,’” according to a report in Bitter Winter. The Italian online magazine documents violations of religious freedom in China and elsewhere. - More...